Anthropology at East Carolina University

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift dramatically with just a few data points, but what we're seeing is concerning enough to warrant serious consideration. East Carolina's anthropology program starts graduates at $24,228—below both the national median ($27,806) and North Carolina's median ($26,853) for this degree. While the program ranks in the state's 40th percentile (middle of the pack in NC), graduates from UNC-Chapel Hill earn 50% more right out of college, and even Western Carolina's program delivers 17% higher starting pay.

The debt picture is actually favorable—at $27,000, it's slightly above the state median but manageable relative to first-year earnings (1.11 ratio). The 38% earnings growth to $33,518 by year four shows meaningful career progression. However, even after that growth, graduates remain well below what other NC programs deliver at graduation. For a family considering East Carolina specifically for anthropology, understand that this field already presents earnings challenges nationwide, and this program's starting salaries lag behind most alternatives in the state. If your child is committed to anthropology and ECU offers other compelling reasons (location, cost, fit), the reasonable debt levels mean it won't be financially catastrophic—but if career earnings matter, other NC public options deliver better outcomes from day one.